Ferguson wins world selection

Peter Ferguson can see the national drivers' premiership slipping away but he was delighted yesterday to hear he had been chosen to represent New Zealand at the world driving championships in Norway next year.

Ferguson, aged 40, is three wins behind southern rival Dexter Dunn, 18, with five weeks of the season to go, and says he doesn't have the firepower of his young rival, who will sit behind five first-pick selections at Rangiora today.

But in naming Ferguson as New Zealand's representative for the worlds, set down for May, 2009, Harness Racing New Zealand has recognised his performance over the last two seasons.

Fergie won the title in 2007 with 100 winners, but because the world series is held only every two years, Colin de Filippi got the nod for the world event.

HRNZ general manager Edward Rennell said Ferguson's selection recognised not only his driving skills over a long period, but also his contribution to the industry. As well as being active in education programmes, Kidz Kartz, industry training and amateur driving, he is president of the North Island branch of the Horsemans' Association and on its national executive.

"It's certainly an honour to represent your peers," Ferguson said yesterday.

"And even though it looks like only bad luck will beat Dexter in the premiership this time, I'll be giving it a go until the end of the season."

Ferguson said with the big stables he drives for light on numbers, smaller northern fields, and no plans to drive at the four southern meetings possible - he'll be away on a family holiday in Fiji when the season closes at Addington on July 31 - the way looked clear for Dunn.

"But the season has still been huge for me. I should get 130-odd winners and I've had two group one wins (Lizzie Maguire's Great Northern Oaks and Arden Banner's Fillies' Sires Stakes)."

HARNESS JEWELS BACK AT CAMBRIDGE / www.sstlive.co.nz

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